Commercial-titled apartment sales hit

In Beijing's Chaoyang district, Yue Shulin, 31, a real estate agent, has been "taking a break" for more than two weeks, the longest time he has ever been off work since starting his career in the industry in 2009.

Yue focuses on deals for commercial-titled apartments - residential properties which were offices or shops once upon a time in commercial projects. But, since March 26, when Beijing authorities banned sales of these projects to individual buyers and suspended mortgage for such purchases, Yue has not closed a deal.

"It feels like the time when you are suspended at college and barred from pursuing your major. I had some 26 units on my list by mid-March. Now, broke. I've to find new resources, new clients and start from zero," he said.